HUGH: born.-1899.
Died in infancy in Scotland.
ELIZABETH MUIR (Bessie) : born.1900.- died 1954
Married Charles Cooper. Bessie was the eldest and seemed to play a large role in the raising of the younger ones which no doubt commenced on the long journey out from Scotland.
She and Charlie lived their life in Winchester Street in Lyttelton. She was always a cheerful happy person, had a bottomless biscuit tin and retained her Scottish brogeall (accent) all her life.
Their first child, Charles jnr. Died at two years of age in a freak accident while playing on a wooden bench, twisting suddenly and breaking his neck. They had one other child, Victor, born in 1926.
(Bessie)
- "Ye pawky little tottum
With your winning smiles,
What really is at the bottom
Of your little wiles?
Is your love for Grandpa
Really from the heart,
Are you only acting
A pretty little part?
No, sweet little Bessie,
I do not believe,
That my winsome lassie
Could me so deceive.
I love to hear your little feet
Go toddling but and ben
And when you leave me for the night,
I wish you back again. "
MARGARET WALLACE (Peggy): born 1902.- Died 1958Married Charles Robinson, a Farmer at Rotomanu on the West coast of the South Island.
They had two children, Gloria (Joy) born 1940, and Lesley (Lynn) born 1944,. Peggy was a Schoolteacher before working in the office of a timber mill on the West Coast. After her husbands death, she moved to Greymouth.
JAMES MUIR (Jim): born 1903.- died 1982
Married Doris Gibson. Jim was a printer by trade. They originally lived in Christchurch but moved to Wellington. They had five daughters,
Shirley born 1930,
Beverly born 1932,
Peggy born 1935,
Valda born 1940,
Sally born 1945.
An amusing story about Jim, an avid reader of 'thrillers', relates how he once walked down the hill from his home in Lyttelton and totally absorbed in his book, carried on along one of the wharves and walked finally off the end, into the harbour!
WILLIAM : born 1905.- died 1952
Married Elizabeth Rouse (Dolly).. He did not get along with his father and for some reason now lost in time, moved to live on the West coast. They had three children, William born 1933 and now living in Papakura just outside of Auckland, Keith born 1935 living in Te Kuiti, and Elsie born 1945 whereabouts unknown.
ANNIE BRODIE McFARLANE: born 1907.- died 1931Married John Feelry, a Painter and Paperhanger. A very tragic marriage. They had one child, John, who is believed to have become a Priest. While expecting a second child, Annie become extremely ill and died at the early age of twenty four.
JESSIE MARY (Pearl) : born 1910.- died1960She never married but had a wee daughter she called Raewyn. Pearl looked after her father who discouraged her from marrying and promised her the Family home after his death but left it totally or most part to her brother Donald.
HANNAH PURCELL (My Mum): born 1911.- died 1974
Married *Leopold Philip Waters, a.k.a. Leo or Wag).
She was the last of the Scots born children. She travelled by train to Christchurch each day, working as a Chocolate Maker at Aulsebrookes until her marriage.
She was very involved with the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade, was a Sunday school teacher at the Presbyterian Church and an enthusiastic Hiker.
Her name-sake was her Aunt who married her Uncle John and for the courtesy of naming her Hannah Purcell, her Aunt made a donation to Hannah's mother of Five Pounds!
Her husband, my father, was English born and at the time of their meeting, was a Steward on the Shaw Savill Line Mataroa,
They lived in Christchurch, where Leo worked as a Cabinetmaker until 1950, when they moved to Remuera in Auckland.
They had seven children:
Irvine Douglas born 1937- died 1993
Carol Angela born 1939,
Barrie Philip born 1940- died 2005 
Malcolm Bruce born 1941,
Leopold Vernard born 1944- died 2004
Stephen Roderick born 1948,
Peter Andre born 1957.
On retirement, they moved to Okewa Road, Titirangi, to a beautiful bush clad environment, overlooking the sea, where she could indulge her passion for Gardening and entertaining her children, grandchildren and her many friends.
DONALD: born 1915.- died 1965
He never married. He served in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East during World War II and on his return, lived in the family home until around 1950, when he sold the property. He moved to Christchurch and worked as a Shoemaker at Knight Footwear. After leaving work early one day complaining of a headache and taking Codeine, he returned home and had a few beers. The combination proved fatal.
IRVINE NORMAN JOHN: born 1917.- died 1942
Unmarried, he joined the Fleet Air Arm in World War II, becoming a Sergeant Air Gunner in Canada.
He flew in Stirling and Lancaster Bombers based in England, but during a test flight (for a shortened wing span)on the Nineteenth of December 1942, over England, the Stirling bomber failed to pull out from a test dive and crashed into farmland killing all on board. His death certificate lists his cause of death as "Due to War Operations"
He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England.
A memorial obelisk in Lyttelton Cemetery records his death.
VICTOR MALCOLM ALEXANDER (Vic.): born 1920-died 1989
He married Isabella McArthur. The youngest of the eleven children, he was blessed with an excellent memory which helped in his schooling and whatever he read throughout his life.
After leaving school, he joined the Accounts section of Hutchinson Motors in Christchurch and in 1940 he volunteered for war Service, celebrating his 21st birthday en route to England in 1941. From the Fleet Air Arm, he was transferred on loan to the Royal Navy where he served around the coast of Britain and the Mediterranean, chiefly in Landing Craft. He returned to New Zealand at war's end with the rank of Lieutenant.
He married in 1948 and rejoined Hutchinson Motors. Then in 1958, the family, then with two children, Angela born in 1950 and Alan born 1953, moved to Milton, a small farming town south of Dunedin. Victor's accounting skills were put to use in another Motor Firm and a Wool Scour.
This was a period of active involvement for the whole family with Community Organisations and for Victor the Anglican Church, the District High School and the Borough Council were of great interest. At various times the St. Johns Ambulance, Boy Scouts and the Golf Club claimed his attention,in between caring for the house and garden.
In 1980 Vic and Isabella travelled to England to visit their daughter Angela and he was able to see the great contrast in that country compared to his war-time memories.
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